What is the difference between a model release and a property release?

• A. A model release applies to brands; a property release applies to buildings only for construction photos.
• B. A model release covers the person’s likeness; a property release covers consent to use protected or location-based imagery; both are required to license images properly.
• C. A model release is optional; a property release is mandatory for all shoots.
• D. A model release covers property rights; a property release covers the model's likeness.

Answer: (B)

The main distinction is about what rights each release protects. A model release is about the person depicted: it gives permission to use that person’s likeness in images, especially for commercial purposes, covering how the image can be published, reproduced, and distributed. A property release is about the location or property itself: it secures consent from the owner or rights holder to use imagery of that space or building, addressing rights tied to the use of the location in the final product.

In practice, you typically need both when a shoot includes a recognizable person and a recognizable location you plan to license commercially. The idea that a model release applies to brands or that a property release is only for construction photos isn’t accurate, and releases aren’t automatically required for every shoot or that they cover the opposite rights. The essential concept is clear: likeness rights come from the model release; location and property rights come from the property release.